There are over 200 places of worship in Flushing, Queens, a neighborhood that is part of New York City.
R. Scott Hanson, who teaches history at the State University of New York (Binghamton), calls Flushing “perhaps the most extreme case of religious pluralism in the world.” It has Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras, mosques, Japanese, Chinese and Korean Buddhist temples, Korean churches, Latin American evangelical churches, synagogues and more.
You’ll have a chance to ask Dr. Hanson questions during an America.gov webchat about this unique neighborhood on Tuesday August 19 at 9 a.m. EDT (13:00 GMT) – just go to http://departmentofstate.acrobat.com/flushing/. No registration is needed. Simply choose “Enter as a Guest,” type in your preferred screen name and join the discussion.
Hope to see you at the webchat and here on “Talking Faith” for your ideas and comments about religious life around the world.
Alexandra Abboud has five years experience reporting on the legal and cultural dynamics that shape American society. At America.gov, she manages coverage of cultural diversity, the arts, education and sports. Abboud has also served as a managing editor of the State Department's eJournal USA series, producing internationally circulated publications on innovation and fighting corruption.
Comments (4)
Andrew
20 August 2008 at 18:15 EDT
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Why does the government have a religious blog in the first place?
Allen McDonald, El Galloviejo®
20 August 2008 at 20:39 EDT
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‘The United States is in no sense founded upon the Christian doctrine.’ – George Washington, Treaty of Tripoli – http://tinyurl.com/4wky4
And it was James Madison, author of the First Amendment, and indeed, the Bill of Rights, penned the very words: ‘ Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion….’
‘ The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature; and if men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves of artifice, imposture, hypocrisy, and superstition, It ill never be pretended that any persons employed in that service had interviews with the gods, or were in any degree under the influence of heaven, more than those at work upon ships or houses, or laboring in merchandise or agriculture; it will forever be acknowledged that these governments were contrived merely by the use of reason and the senses.’ – John Adams
Alexandra Abboud
America.gov Staff
20 August 2008 at 20:50 EDT
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Andrew — thanks for your comment. Religious Freedom is a bedrock principle of the United States and the right to worship or not worship at all is a pretty important part of a democratic society. That’s why we’re excited about having this conversation.
You bring up an important concept though: Separation of Church and State. The U.S. has no established religion at all. A conversation about religion is much different than the government advocating one religion over another which is not allowed as a result of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which reads in part: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…”
For more information see ” Many Americans Change Religious Beliefs” and “U.S. Religious Freedom Owes Debt to Colonists’ Radical Document“
abey
6 October 2008 at 05:59 EDT
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Is it not Christian principles with its roots to the old testament that bought about the advancement of the world including the word freedom. Why is that talking about the word” GOD”is taboo these days?
Christian works word wide are seen at its best in terms of community works & its kind & worst seen in terms of politics.
Why is that so many preachers in America
are getting involved in politics.
Diverse views are good, but not at the cost of loosing God. Too many cooks (or crooks) spoil the broth.